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Chavez meets Colombia Farc rebels Chavez meets Colombia Farc rebels
(1 day later)
The Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, has said he has held talks with a representative of the Colombian left-wing rebel group, the Farc. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has held fresh talks with high level representatives of the Colombian left-wing rebel movement, the Farc.
The meeting involved an unnamed envoy of the group's leader, Manuel Marulanda, and was held in Venezuela. The meeting involved Ivan Marquez, an envoy of the Farc leader Manuel Marulanda, and was held in Caracas.
No details were given, and Colombia said it had not been told of the talks. Mr Marquez said if Mr Chavez and Mr Marulanda could meet it would remove some obstacles to a prisoner swap.
Colombia has authorised Mr Chavez to talk to the group to try to secure the release of hostages in exhange for rebel prisoners. Mr Chavez said such a meeting was on the agenda, but a time and place had not yet been decided.
Speaking on television, Mr Chavez said he would meet with the Farc representative again in the next few days. "Today I'm more optimistic than ever over this humanitarian exchange issue," Mr Chavez said.
"Today, I met for several hours with an envoy of Manuel Marulanda. It was the first meeting. There will be others as we look for a solution. But it is not easy," he said. Mr Marquez said a future meeting could possibly take place in Colombia's El Yari region, where Mr Marulanda is thought to be hiding out, in the jungle near Colombia's borders with Venezuela and Brazil.
The Farc wants 500 rebel prisoners freed in exchange for 45 hostages it has held for years in jungle camps. Colombia gave its blessing to Mr Chavez's talks, in an effort to secure the release of around 50 high-profile prisoners being held by the Farc, but has not authorised a meeting on Colombian soil.
The Farc wants 500 rebel prisoners freed in exchange for the hostages who have been held for years in jungle camps.
They include French-Colombian citizen and former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and three US defence contractors.They include French-Colombian citizen and former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and three US defence contractors.
Mr Chavez said Farc fighters had been ordered to give proof that the hostages are still alive.Mr Chavez said Farc fighters had been ordered to give proof that the hostages are still alive.